The end of the Yonex "classics"?

kwun

kwun

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From very very early on, there are a selected cream of crop Yonex rackets that are revered by badminton players (esp professional players) all around the world. these are rackets that are most popular among the professionals. these are rackets that fetches extraordinary prices in the used market after being discontinued. the list of classics in my book are:

Carbonex 9
Carbonex 20
Isometric 800
Ti-10
Muscle Power 99
Armortec 700

these are rackets that we can see not just used by a few players, most often, most of a team ends up using a racket. Ti-10 was really popular in Korea, AT700 in China, and Cab20 by almost everyone.

however, for probably a few reasons, we are no longer seeing any particular Yonex racket garnering this status anymore. firstly it is because of the shift in team sponsorship, and nowadays, we don't see that there is one racket that is taking the crown. the NS and Arcsabers are used but not consistently so. players tend to switch around much more to different models all the time, never settling down on a particular classic.

will this spell the end of the classic series? or do you think one of the racket will emerge as the modern day classic?
 
Agreed with the models. Cab8 was also popular though. During that time, there may not be that many badminton enthusiast.

It sure will evolve due to companies trying to sell more new ones to get new revenues. Sadly the price keeps on going up to rediculous levels. ;)
 
I also think there are more models than ever before. Look at the range of rackets available now compared to 20 years ago.
 
..are you looking for a specific "new" generation Yonex racket(s) that is(are) being used by a lot of pro players/national teams or everyone??..
 
extremenanopowe said:
Agreed with the models. Cab8 was also popular though. During that time, there may not be that many badminton enthusiast.

It sure will evolve due to companies trying to sell more new ones to get new revenues. Sadly the price keeps on going up to rediculous levels. ;)
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i distinctly remember in 1991-2, a top of the line racket cab21 was in the region of HK$650 which is around US$85. nearly 20 yrs later, the top of the line nowadays goes for around double that. i think given inflation it is not that bad.
 
Another factor, i think, is the emergence of other competitors/brands that match the quality of Yonex therefore diluting the market of "classic" rackets.
 
Yah, with new companies and new sponsorships, it's difficult for a racket to be established as a go-to anymore. and companies are coming out with new models every year and they always want their players to use the newest stuff.

it was cool how lin dan always used the at700 1st gen. he didn't even bother using the at900p (which was kinda of designed for him).. I'm not sure about the at700 ltd though.. but anyways.. too many new rackets.. too many companies
 
I think it's testament to the fact that 10 years ago, you could have three categories of rackets and that would pigeon-hole everyone, but now with so many models to choose from with so many conceivable handling and feel traits, there is never going to be one stand-out model that everyone just has to have.

Compounding that problem, is that people don't seem to be interested in versatile, forgiving rackets anymore. People are interested in freak rackets for freak players, that suit 1% of the players out there.

And then like me they sell them for rackets that actually work. :D
 
Lindan is still spotted using at700 even when he is sponsored by lining. Not that he don't like the n90. He still love the feel of at700. Very rare to know that. I'm even suprised myself.
 
ants said:
Lindan is still spotted using at700 even when he is sponsored by lining. Not that he don't like the n90. He still love the feel of at700. Very rare to know that. I'm even suprised myself.
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that's one the quality of these classics. they are well loved and they stand the test of time.
 
What, one PAID professional uses what appears to be the same racket for a few years, and all of a sudden in your mind it's a classic?

You're a marketing persons wet dream. More Pros use the NS9900 and Arc10 than the AT700....does that make it 'more' classic'??

Speaking of which, you never did answer whether or not you got any kickbacks from promoting the new Carltons. :p
 
ahah... pros don't use at700 now... definitely not (and when I say definitely, I mean rarely :P)

people are talking about back in the day... I remember tony gunawan and candra wijaya still using at700.. I think Jonas Rasmussen.. anyways, it was either at700 or 1st gen ti10
 
Easy Tiger said:
What, one PAID professional uses what appears to be the same racket for a few years, and all of a sudden in your mind it's a classic?

You're a marketing persons wet dream. More Pros use the NS9900 and Arc10 than the AT700....does that make it 'more' classic'??
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well if you go back to the great days of the 1st gen AT700, there were many professionals using it. TH, LD, i believe peter gade used it as well. Kenneth Jonassen, too? and that is a small list compared to how many did use it.
 
kwun said:
i distinctly remember in 1991-2, a top of the line racket cab21 was in the region of HK$650 which is around US$85. nearly 20 yrs later, the top of the line nowadays goes for around double that. i think given inflation it is not that bad.
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Compare that with cameras or computers....:)
 
I think the measure of a true classic is that they dominated in their own time and are STILL loved today for the same reasons. For the Cab20 in the 80s, I remember matches where out of 12 players, 9 or 10 would be using it. It seemed to be everywhere. It was a racket so far ahead of its competitors, not using it would put even a good player at a disadvantage.

And 25 years on, people still buy it, use it and love it. Like someone said, how many cameras or computers could you say that about? And I don't mean use as a novelty antique for sentimental value, but for its actual performance today.

I have to agree with Kwun, it seems there are no outstanding classics anymore. The last racket I would even think of giving that title to would be the Ti-10 or the AT700. But there are pretty old now. Why aren't Yonex (or anyone else) coming out with something that can truly give us the WOW factor and dominate? Too many companies? Too many rackets?

I hope we will see a racket soon (from whoever) that really impresses and is so good that people will totally fall in love with it.
 
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